In a historic announcement for the running world, Abbott and the World Marathon Majors (WMM) have revealed that the Sydney Marathon will officially join the prestigious ranks of the WMM series, making it the seventh race in the globally renowned series of elite marathons.
This announcement means the Sydney Marathon will join the ranks of Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York City, expanding the WMM series to the Southern Hemisphere and bringing global recognition to Australia’s biggest marathon.
The decision to elevate the Sydney Marathon follows a multi-year assessment process during which Abbott evaluated Sydney’s ability to meet the rigorous standards upheld by the existing six majors.
Sydney’s marathon organizers worked closely with government bodies, city officials, and international race experts to demonstrate their readiness to host a race of global significance. The race, held each September, has consistently grown in scale and participation, with more than 40,000 runners from around the world taking to Sydney’s iconic streets this year alone.
The announcement, which occurred following today’s New York City Marathon, confirmed that Sydney demonstrated strong athlete engagement, logistical excellence, and a commitment to upholding Abbott’s stringent standards. In recent years, race organizers have introduced new sustainability initiatives and increased safety measures to ensure the event provides a top-tier race experience and aligns with WMM’s broader mission of advancing health and fitness on a global stage.
The addition of the Sydney Marathon is also a strategic move to expand WMM’s geographic reach, with the Australian and Asia-Pacific running markets growing at an unprecedented rate.
For many runners worldwide, completing all six AbbottWMM races has become a celebrated goal, earning them the coveted “Six Star Finisher” medal. The addition of Sydney now gives marathoners a seventh destination to strive for; however, Abbott has ensured this change won’t impact current Six Star Finishers.
Sydney Marathon organizers are already planning additional festivities to mark the race’s inaugural year as a WMM event. The race will officially debut as a World Marathon Major in 2025, and with its iconic finish line overlooking the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge, it now ranks among the world’s greatest marathons.
Registration details and official qualification standards will be released in the coming months, and demand is expected to be high.
